RTÉ Radio has announced a shake-up of morning broadcasting on 2FM with Radio One broadcaster Ryan Tubridy taking over the breakfast slot next month.
The new breakfast show, Breakfast with Tubridy, will run from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily from March 18th, replacing both Damien Farrelly's Early Show, which airs from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., and Damien McCaul's Breakfast Show which follows until 9 a.m.
The revision comes after latest audience listenership figures showed the Breakfast Show had lost 22,000 listeners, while former 2FM star Ian Dempsey gained 30,000 on his rival show on Today FM.
Ryan Tubridy is currently the full-time reporter and stand-in presenter on Radio One's Five Seven Live programme. The 28-year-old broadcaster previously presented Morning Glory and The Sunday Show.
RTÉ said last night the new format would provide "a greater mix of news, information, sport, entertainment, humour and music aimed at listeners under 40".
A spokeswoman said Farrelly, and McCaul, who is also a television presenter on Den2 on Network Two, would be moving to new slots on 2FM. Other programme changes include an earlier start for Dave Fanning's evening show, she said.
Fanning's new programme will be directly after Tony Fenton's drivetime show, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.